IA HF2441

Removes the eligibility requirement that Teach Iowa Scholar Program applicants must be in the top 25 percent academically of their teacher preparation program.

Allocates 20 percent of Teach Iowa Scholar Fund awards to eligible classroom teachers providing special education instruction, beginning July 1, 2026.

Allocates 50 percent of fund awards to eligible classroom teachers employed by rural school districts, defined as districts with certified enrollment of fewer than 1,000 students.

The Teach Iowa Scholar Program provides grants of up to $4,000 annually for full-time teachers in Iowa, with a maximum of $20,000 over five years, for teachers in STEM, ESL, special education, or other hard-to-staff subjects.